My ancestors lived in a world which told them they were disposable shit compared to the GOOD people, frequently by making them unwilling refugees or by killing them off. Part of what must've kept them going was feeling they had the right ideals, and feeling they had the right community.

Similarly the Refuge Vows call out not just the Buddha and the dharma but also the sangha; that it's not just my own innate worth, and not just my values, but my community.

I think I'm onto something with how I'd rather lose with all y'all than win with all of them.

This upcoming regime is going to kill me. Either I'll die in prison, protest, hate crime, or homeless camp thanks to their bullshit, the environmental effects of their deregulation will get me, or the wear on my emotional and therefore physical health will. But I was always going to die, and the key question is how I live before that comes to an end. I did the right thing here. I will continue to try and do the right thing on my path through prison, protest, hate crime or homeless camp.

Remind me this gives me hope, when I'm screaming in discomfort, will'ya?